Several new traffic laws affecting California drivers went into effect with the start of the new year, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Although not a traffic law itself, the Jan. 1 legalization of recreational marijuana sales has significant implications for impaired driving laws. In anticipation of the legalization, the California government outlawed the use of marijuana and marijuana products by drivers or passengers while a motor vehicle is in use.

A separate law passed last year prohibits the possession of open containers of marijuana or marijuana products while a vehicle is being operated, similar to restrictions on alcoholic beverage containers.

Officer Gregg Musgrove of Moorpark CHP said the agency spent much of the past year preparing for the legalization of recreational marijuana sales.

Musgrove noted the training itself was not new but changed from optional to mandatory after Prop 64 passed in 2016. The two-day class encompasses all signs and symptoms of impaired driving and does not solely focus on alcohol or marijuana impairment, according to Musgrove. Ninety-seven percent of CHP officers have completed the specialized training, Ventura CHP Officer Kevin Denharder said.

Beyond the legalization of recreational marijuana sales, several other traffic laws went into effect Monday.

A new parking bill bans local jurisdictions from preventing people from parking at inoperable parking meters or payment centers. However, local jurisdictions can limit parking to four hours at these locations, as long as signs are installed to notify drivers. A separate parking bill allows low-income recipients of parking tickets to owe reduced debts and make payments over time for citations, according to California law.

Laws regulating the use of disability placards were also modified as of this year. The new law states the Department of Motor Vehicles will perform random audits of disability placards, permanent placard holders must renew every six years and temporary placards can be replaced a maximum of four times before requiring a new application.

Vehicles registered starting Jan. 1 will incur a "Transportation Improvement Fee" between $25 and $175, depending on the value of the vehicle, authorities said.

Finally, some traffic laws passed in 2017 will not go into effect until midway through the year on July 1. For instance, bus drivers and passengers will be required to wear seatbelts in equipped buses. School buses and public transit buses are exempt. Another law effective July 1 halves the legal blood alcohol limit for rideshare drivers to 0.04 percent from 0.08 percent.